Local briefs: Motorcyclist killed in Highway 41 crash

A motorcyclist died in Madera on Wednesday afternoon after colliding with a pickup, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The pickup driver, a 27-year-old man from Clovis, was at a stop sign at Avenue 15 and Highway 41 around 2:15 p.m. when he began to turn left onto northbound Highway 41, Sgt. Tom Shepard said. As the truck turned, the motorcycle crashed into the driver's side of the truck.

The motorcyclist, a man in his 50s, was riding southbound on Highway 41 about 50 to 60 mph before the crash. He was declared dead at the scene, Shepard said.

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Work on Bullard High pool, track begins

A groundbreaking was held Wednesday for the long-awaited pool and track upgrades at Bullard High School in Fresno.

Bullard's upgrades include a new 50-meter pool -- to replace the old 25-meter pool that leaks -- and tiered concrete seating for up to 2,000 spectators. The school will also get a new nine-lane all-weather track, floodlights, a new jump pit and discus throwing area. The entire $5.9 million project should be completed in just less than a year and is part of nearly $14 million in upgrades to aging sports facilities at seven Fresno high schools.

"This project sends the message that we are committed to high-quality athletic facilities because we truly believe that activities outside the classroom are essential to student success inside the classroom," Fresno Unified Superintendent Michael Hanson said at the groundbreaking ceremony, attended by about 100 people.

The project was delayed after neighborhood residents -- concerned about loitering and parking near their homes -- pushed for an environmental impact report that cost the district $281,000 and delayed construction.

Meetings will discuss overhauling schools

Fresno Unified School District will hold public hearings today at three persistently low-achieving schools that the state wants overhauled.

The first meeting will be at 4 p.m. at Carver Middle School, 2463 Martin Luther King Blvd. The second will be at 5:30 p.m. at Webster Elementary School, 2600 E. Tyler Ave. And the final meeting will be at 7 p.m. at Yosemite Middle School, 1292 N. Ninth St. The meetings will be held in the schools' cafeterias.

District leaders are seeking input from parents and community members on which of four options outlined by the state should be selected:

Closing down the school and sending students to better schools.

Replacing the principal and half the staff.

Closing and reopening the campus as a charter school.

Significantly revamping the school by replacing the principal and setting rigorous new academic standards for staff and students -- including more instructional hours.

Local school officials must adopt one of the options if they want to qualify for federal improvement grant money that ranges from $50,000 to $2 million. The deadline to apply is June 1.

Gubernatorial hopeful plans visit to Fresno

Steve Poizner will bring his Republican campaign for governor to Fresno for a town hall meeting from 10 to 11 a.m. May 15 at the Ramada Inn University, 324 E. Shaw Ave.